35-year-old heavyweight Tyrell Fortune made his long-awaited UFC debut at UFC Seattle on Saturday, stepping into the octagon against Polish veteran Marcin Tybura. Fortune, a former Division II national champion wrestler who spent the bulk of his career competing under the Bellator banner, had finally arrived on the sport’s biggest stage.
According to sources, the three-round bout went the full distance, with the outcome left to the judges’ scorecards. Most observers ringside and at home felt confident Fortune had done enough to earn the win, but the evening took a weird turn when announcer Bruce Buffer stepped to the microphone and read out Tybura’s name as the winner.
Fortune, apparently believing the decision was final, turned and walked out of the octagon, making his way toward the tunnel. Moments later, officials realized the error and scrambled to bring him back.
UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald addressed the situation as it unfolded. “We have a mistake here,” he told viewers. “Mistake made in the announcement of Marcin Tybura, so we’re going to get Tyrell Fortune back in there. He didn’t expect his moment to happen like this, so we apologise for that. Bruce Buffer back on the mic again.”
Fortune returned to the cage, where Buffer faced the crowd and set the record straight.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the mix-up,” Buffer said. “The scoring is 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 to the winner by unanimous decision, Tyrell Fortune.”
Fortune had walked out of the octagon believing he had come up short in one of the most important bouts of his career, only to be called back moments later to have his hand raised.
“Man, that was an emotional drop and then a high again,” Fortune said of the sequence of events. “Once I was walking out of the Octagon I was just upset and frustrated with myself that I didn’t get the performance that I felt that I could.”
Despite the victory, Fortune remained his own toughest critic when speaking to ESPN after the bout. “I was so upset with myself,” he admitted. “I felt I didn’t do enough. I was just upset. With two weeks’ notice, I feel like I did a good job, but I also need to come with a better performance next time.”
He added that the correction ultimately made the night feel complete. “It was a little upsetting, feeling that I lost,” he said. “But them having to come back in and get the win and getting my hand raised made everything feel right.”
The victory moves Fortune’s professional record to 18-3, and he is set to enter the UFC’s official heavyweight rankings when they are updated on Monday.
